How they voted: Ryan, Riley on Hegseth impeachment, retirement investment plans – Daily Freeman

By Targeted News Service
WASHINGTON, Nov. 13 — Here’s a look at how area members of Congress voted over the previous week.

In addition to this week’s roll call votes, the House also passed the Take Care of America’s Veterans Act (H.R. 9237), to improve benefits for veterans and the administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs; and the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (H.R. 8552), to increase, effective as of December 1, 2026, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and for survivors of certain disabled veterans.

The Senate followed the House in passing the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act without a vote.

House

Recycling nuclear fuel

The House on Nov. voted 397-2  to pass the Nuclear Recycling Efficient Fuels Utilizing Expedited Licensing Act (H.R. 3978), sponsored by Rep. Robert E. Latta, R-Ohio, to have the Nuclear Regulatory Commission apply its special nuclear material regulations for the licensing of spent fuel reprocessing projects. Latta said the change “advances a policy to maximize access to the additional energy available in spent nuclear fuel, which retains up to 90 percent of potential energy for future use.”

NOT VOTING: U.S. Rep. Pat Ryan, D-Gardiner
U.S. Rep.  Josh Riley, D-Ithaca, voted yes.

Enriching uranium

The House on Nov. voted 394-3 to pass the American Enrichment Deployment Act (H.R. 9612), sponsored by Rep. Russell Fry, R-S.C., to allow builders of uranium enrichment plants to proceed without a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC). Instead, the plants would be regulated by the NRC under the same framework that applies to other nuclear power fuel cycle plants. Fry said: “This legislation will help reduce delays, encourage private investment, and accelerate the deployment of domestic fuel infrastructure our nuclear industry desperately needs.”

NOT VOTING: Ryan
Riley voted yes

Hegseth impeachment

The House on Nov. 10 voted 211-204 to pass a motion to refer to its Judiciary Committee a bill (H. Res. 1655), sponsored by Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., that would impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for allegedly executing unlawful orders to prosecute the war against Iran without the required authorization from Congress.

Ryan and Riley voted no.

Retirement investment plans

The House on Nov. 11 voted 295-128 to pass the Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act (H.R. 1013), sponsored by Rep. Frank D. Lucas, R-Okla., to allow those enrolled in 403(b) retirement plans, which are structured for employees of public schools, charities, and churches, to invest in collective investment trusts. Lucas said making the bill law would mean that “Americans who serve our communities can finally have the same retirement investment opportunities as every other worker.” An opponent, Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, D-Mass., said the lack of transparency rules for the trusts would expose 403(b) enrollees to hidden risks.

Ryan voted no, Riley voted yes

Disability pay for veterans

The Houseon Nov. 12 voted 392-18 to pass the Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102), sponsored by Rep. Gus M. Bilirakis, R-Fla., to provide full retirement benefits to veterans with disabilities incurred in combat rather than deducting their disability benefits from their retirement benefits level. Bilirakis said the bill rightfully cured the “great injustice” of reducing benefits for soldiers injured in service to the country.

Ryan and Riley voted yes.

Senate

Permitting rules

The Senate on Nov. 9 voted 73-25 to agree to end debate on the motion to proceed to the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (H.R. 2347), sponsored by Rep. Lloyd Smucker, R-Pa., to change the framework for federal government reviews of permit applications, including by speeding environmental reviews; and also change various elements of reviews of energy infrastructure developments. A supporter, Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W. Va., said the bill “creates predictability, consistency, and finality in securing a permit. And it will allow our laws to balance public health, the environment, and the needs of our economy.”

U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.; and Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., voted yes.

Alabama judge

The Senateon Nov. 12 voted 49-27 to confirm the nomination of Gregory Cook to be a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama. A judge on the state’s Supreme Court since 2023, Cook had been a private practice lawyer for several decades, with a focus on commercial law; and a lawyer for various elements of the Republican party. A supporter, Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., said of Cook: “I have every faith and confidence that he will use everything in his being to make sure that he serves the people of the Northern District and this nation to the very best of his ability.”

Schumer and Gillibrand voted no.

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